Expert: James Yee - 12/23/2008

Question
I purchased a Craftsmen's Bench "Passport" humidor for my husband for
Christmas. I want to put a cigar inside it before giving it to him, but am not sure
how to prepare it. Any tips would be much appreciated!

Answer
Hi Stephanie,

Preparing your husband's humidor (also known as "seasoning") is very simple.  First, you need to make sure the humidor includes the following:

1 - Hygrometer (either digital or analog)
1 - Humidification device (usually green foam in a black, removable plastic housing)

If the humidor does not include these two items, you must buy them as both are important to the humidor's performance.  The humidification device will humidify the cigars while the hygrometer provides a reading of the humidor's humidity level (which is important to the cigars).  If you're buying a separate hygrometer, consider buying a digital unit instead of analog.  Digital hygrometers are more accurate and does not require calibration.

Also, the humidor interior must be made with wood.  Acrylic, plastic, glass or ceramic-lined humidors do not need seasoning.  If your husband's humidor does not have a wood interior, you do not need to season it. Simply fill the humidification device with distilled water and it will be ready to use.

To season a wood humidor, you will also need the following:

1 - bottle of distilled water
1 - Brand new and clean (or sterilized) spray bottle
1 - Brand new and clean sponge
1 - Small dish to hold the sponge or a sheet of plastic food wrap
1 - Pre-mixed "50/50" humidor solution (OPTIONAL)

First, take the spray bottle and spray distilled water all over the interior of the humidor.  Spray the entire interior.  Don't worry, this won't harm or warp the wood in any way.  Let the water sit for a few minutes so that the wood can absorb the water.  Next, wipe away any excess water left behind with a clean sponge so that there are no puddles and fill the humidification device with distilled water.  If the sponge is not saturated with distilled water yet, add more distilled water to it.  Next, let the humidor sit overnight (closed) with the humidification device, sponge (soaked in distilled water), and the hygrometer placed inside the humidor for 24 hours.  *IMPORTANT: Place the wet sponge on a small dish or on a sheet of plastic food wrap so that it does not come in direct contact with the wood.  

If after 24 hours, the sponge or humidification device has lost a lot of moisture, repeat the seasoning process.  Check the humidor again after another 24 hours.  When the humidor is able to sit for 24 hours without losing much moisture in either the sponge or humidification device, the humidor will be properly seasoned.  If the humidor came with a bottle of "50/50" pre-mixed humidor solution, add this to the humidification device ONLY instead of the distilled water during seasoning.  (You will still need to apply distilled water to humidor and sponge.)  After this, your husband just needs to add distilled water to the humidification device when needed to maintain proper humidity.  In a humidor, the ideal humidity level is 70% (67-74% is tolerable) and the ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit (67-74 degrees is tolerable).

Once the humidor is seasoned and properly maintained, it should read 70% humidity on the hygrometer.  If the humidity is too high or low, make sure that the humidification device is frequently refilled. If the hygrometer is analog and continues to show a high or low humidity reading, it may need to be tested for accuracy and calibrated.  To do this, search google (or my question archive) for "salt test" for step-by-step instructions.

Depending on the size of the humidor, seasoning can take anywhere between 1-3 days so if you're worried that it may not be fully seasoned by Christmas, you may just want to leave the cigar in the travel humidor, fill the hygrometer device with distilled water and let your husband season it after Christmas.  If you're worried that the cigar may be dry on Christmas day, what you can also do is buy a humi-pouch and present your husband's cigars in that.  A humi-pouch is basically a Ziploc-style bag with a humidified lining built into the plastic.  They're designed for short-term cigar storage and travel and will properly humidify cigars for 3 months (90 days) with very little maintenance and supervision.  Humi-pouches are also reusable for 90 days so your husband can keep his cigars in that while he seasons the humidor.  He can also use it as a secondary travel humidor.  Humi-pouches are available in a variety of sizes and can store everything from a few single cigars, to whole boxes.  You can find them at most cigar stores and depending on the size of the bag, they retail between $5 to $15 each.

Hope this helps.  If you (or your husband) have any more questions, please feel free to just ask and I will be happy to help.

Regards,
James